John Heslin helps UCD past DCU to claim Sigerson Cup

UCD 0-10 DCU 2-2

UCD had to overcome some fairly significant hurdles before deservedly capturing a first Sigerson Cup in 20 years, beating Dublin rivals DCU in Jordanstown.

Dublin stars Paul Mannion and Jack McCaffrey were forced off towards the start and the end of the game respectively, while Kildare forward Niall Kelly was also shown a black card in the first half.

Despite those blows, UCD were the better side throughout and started brightly, leading 0-4 to 0-1 after 18 minutes.

Westmeath's John Heslin top-scored with six points, and he landed two frees and a point early on with Monaghan's Conor McCarthy scoring the first of his two points before Mannion hobbled off with a leg injury after 17 minutes.

2015 champions DCU were behind for most of the game and only scored one point from play, a spectacular score from the wing from Stephen Attride in the sixth minute.

They had their best spell leading up to half time and scored 1-1 in first-half injury-time.

Tipperary midfielder Stephen O’Brien scored a 30th minute goal and Shane Carey nailed a free to put them 1-2 to 0-5 ahead.

After seeing all their good early work come to nothing, and facing into a strong second half wind without Mannion and Kelly, it looked ominous for UCD.

However they reasserted themselves and reeled off four unanswered points in the third quarter, including three Heslin frees, to go 0-8 to 1-2 ahead after 44 minutes.

UCD were by far the more fluid side and DCU’s penalty came against the run of play.

Conor McHugh went on a good run down the left and passed inside to fellow sub Conor McGraynor, who swivelled and was upended in the square.

Cavan’s Conor Mynagh stepped up and buried the penalty in the 52nd minute to draw the holders level at 2-2 to 0-8.

DCU dropped two points balls into the goalkeeper’s hands after that and UCD made them pay with Heslin converting a point from the left after 56 minutes.

UCD captain Jack McCaffrey, who had hobbled out of Friday’s semi-final win over UL with a hamstring injury, was forced off with three minutes to go with his side one point ahead.

UCD picked up their second black card when McCarthy went late on, but having used all six subs it meant they finished the game with 14 men.

McCaffrey’s replacement, Stephen Coen, scored from a tight angle in the first minute of stoppage time to make sure of victory for UCD.

UCD: E Keogh (Laois); R Wylie (Monaghan), D Hyland (Kildare), D Byrne (Dublin); C Mullaly (Dublin), M Fitzsimons (Dublin), J McCaffrey (Dublin); L Casey (Tipperary), R McDaid (Dublin); C McCarthy (Monaghan, 0-2), J Heslin (Westmeath, 0-6 4f), C Basquel (Dublin); E Lowry (Laois), P Mannion (Dublin, 0-1 f), N Kelly (Kildare)

Subs: T Hayes (Cavan) for Mannion (17), J McEntee (Meath) for Kelly (BC, 29), S Coen (Mayo, 0-1) for McEntee (43), J Barry (Kerry) for Lowry (53), S O’Dea (Limerick) for McCaffrey (57), T Moolick for Casey (58)

DCU: P O'Donnell (Donegal); K Daly (Westmeath), K Feeley (Kildare), J Smith (Dublin); S Attride (Laois, 0-1), C Moynagh (Cavan 1-0, pen), D Byrne (Dublin); S O'Brien (Tipperary, 1-0), M Quinn (Longford); D O'Connor (Mayo), E Smith (Roscommon), C Begley (Laois); R Connor (Longford), R Lyons (Fermanagh), S Carey (Monaghan, 0-1 f)

Subs: S Carthy (Dublin) for Quinn (HT), C McGraynor (Wicklow) for Connor (HT),

D Ward (Monaghan) for Daly (44), C McHugh (Dublin) for Carey (47), C Breheny (Sligo) for Lyons (47), C McNally (Armagh) for Smith (59)

REFEREE: David Coldrick (Meath)